From being told to aim lower to storming the youth rap scene - Ess The Rapper

“On stage with KSI at Manchester Academy, that was the first time I ever touched a stage in my life.” 

Max Scanlon, better known as rapper Ess has been writing music since he was a child and started recording aged 15 - now he’s gearing up for more Greater Manchester shows in July with no signs of slowing down.

With almost 15,000 streams on Spotify and enviable gigs lined up for summer, Max tells Roch Valley Radio how his first appearance on stage came after betting his friend he could get on stage with rapper/YouTuber/boxer, KSI - and he did.

Max also recalls how his careers advisor in high school told him to ‘aim lower’ than his ambition to have a career in music, and how this failed to deter him.

Releasing his first song last February titled ‘No Debating’ on Spotify, Max hopes his music can resonate with listeners and make them feel seen.

Single ‘Home is Where the Heart is’ was written about feeling more comfortable in someone else’s home than your own, and Max wrote this record to show that someone else is going through the same experience as you.

Manchester is one of the biggest upcoming cities in the world for music according to Max and has allowed him to access opportunities through HideOut Youth Zone in Gorton, NQ.Legacy - a non-profit for young people interested in music, and Pie Radio, described as Manchester’s number one youth-led radio station.

He will soon join the Reload stage for a summer rave performance in Bolton with artists Shaun Dean, Tyler J, and DJ Keeko on 29th July for their under 16s night.

Despite Max’s young age, 17, he believes this is an advantage: “I’ve worked with so many people who are in their twenties and are only just at my stage now. Being young means I’ve got more time.

“I’ve got a head start, a bit of leeway where I can go as hard as I can so when I hit twenty five I will be clear of where I am now.”

When asked about family and friends supporting Max’s choice of career he said: “I’ll play my grandparents my music and they don’t have a clue what lyrics I’m saying but they’re trying and that’s all that matters.

“I don’t expect people to get it, I just expect them to support it and they definitely do.”

Ess is also performing at Rewinder Under 18s night in Oldham on Monday 22nd July.